Insurance

Feb 13, 2008

In regards to a private health insurance policy (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona), can the insurance company raise their rate if a person is diaganosed with HIV

Response from Ms. Franzoi

Typically, an individual health policy would be community-rated and the premium would be based on the individual's zip code. Although an insurance company can raise a premium on an individual policy, it is typically done based on community rates not individul diagnoses. If it is a group plan, the insurer will set the rate based on plan experience, i.e., an experience-rated policy. If this is the case and the plan has had many high cost claims, the inusrance carrier will raise the premium to reflect experience.

This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.

Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.